So What Happened the Last Six Months?

Now that the easy part of the FSOA process is behind me, I feel like I can blog a bit more regularly now. I'm a bit anal when it comes to preparing for things within my control. And although I never do as much as I would like, I spent the last six months working on PNQ's and gaming the FSOA rather than spending time on the blog. And really, who wants to read a blog about studying? Some of the joy of blogging about this process evaporated when Mrs. FSOWannabe didn't make it past the PNQ stage. The lack of feedback at the PNQ stage, I think, has discouraged her from trying again, although she recently mentioned testing again in June. I hope she does, because it would be fantastic to be a tandem couple.

In addition, 2009 was a tumultuous year for my family, which definitely killed the blog for a bit. Shortly after taking the FSOT, I found out that despite my law firm's strident claims that they never engaged in layoffs, my entire department in NY (including dear friends and colleagues) was let go. Not that I blame the firm, frankly. My field of structured finance, a several trillion dollar industry at its height, ceased to exist almost over night at the end of 2007. I'd managed to escape the bloodletting but my billables were few and far between, and I was no exception in my department. After talking with my managing partner about being seconded to a client in Tokyo (which fell apart when when they offered a transfer...but without my family), there were no really good options. So I cut a deal, got a payout, and am now on funemployment. On top of that, my mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer at the same time that my father fell down a mountain and broke a bunch of ribs while "hiking" (falling?) the Appalachian Trail. My daughter, FSOWannabe Brat Ichi (who suffers from febrile seizures) was hospitalized for a week; and Mrs. FSOWannabe, to show her up, decided to get hospitalized for a week as well. So...a stressful year. Luckily, my family is fine now (mother is A-OK following surgery, Dad's ribs are healed, Mrs. FSOWannabe and FSOWannabe Brats Ichi and Segunda are all healthy).

I had been looking for new work since last January, but unfortunately my skill set is fairly hard to place in the legal industry outside of NYC. At the end of December, I was grateful to receive a job offer for a position starting in August 2010. So my funemployment will continue while I focus on spending time with the Brats and hitting the gym everyday. And, of course, I hope to blog a bit more, too.

About FSO Wannabe

So I thought I might take a moment to write a fast blog post about why I want to become a US Foreign Service Officer.

First, a bit of history. Back in the day, which for me means fifteen years ago, I was a bright and sunny graduate of a public university in the DC area with two freshly minted degrees - one in Japanese Literature and one in International Relations. Back then, the US economy was still in the grip of its fear of the Japanese and their economic juggernaut. So, being obviously interested in government and the international arena, I took the FSWE with a bunch of friends. I remember during the testing intermission some jackass telling people that at that point half the people already had failed. Anyhow, a month or so later I found out that all my friends had failed the exam, but I had somehow passed and been invited to the orals.

And I never went.

That decision has never haunted me. I already had a cool job in hand that would end up taking me overseas for four years. I think I bailed on orals because the idea of worldwide availability limited me from going where I wanted to go at the time - which was Japan. Although in retrospect I do wonder what my life might have been if I had decided to try my luck at orals. Most likely, exactly the same (because I assume I would have failed).

Since then, I've been blessed enough to have lived extensively abroad. I eventually came home, got a law degree, went abroad again and came home again, got married, and had two beautiful daughters (FSOwannabe Brat Ichi and FSOwannabe Brat Segunda). And fifteen years later, I find myself still wanting to be an FSO. It's a bit more difficult choosing an FSO life with a family. But, I'm doubly blessed to have a supportive wife who desires an unconventional life for our family.

So there's the background. But why the Foreign Service? On a lot of levels, it's ridiculously apparent to me why one would want to join. It's a life abroad. It's a job that actually pays you to learn a foreign language. There is the allure of being a diplomat. But those are the somewhat superficial reasons to join. A deeper and more relevant reason for wanting to be an FSO, however, is for the chance to serve. It sounds ridiculous these days, but I love my country and believe it is the greatest nation on earth.  I can't imagine a more satisfying career than to represent my country on a daily basis and doing my best to serve its interests.

I don't think I have any illusions about being an FSO. I expect it to be frustrating at times. I expect it to be boring at times. I expect to feel like I'm not challenged. I expect huge amounts of stress moving my family around. But.But. But. It's something I believe in. And that's why I'm an FSOwannabe.

Slacker isn't the 14th Dimension

So...it's been a while.  My bad.  No, really, my bad.  I certainly have plenty of entertaining excuses - new baby daughter...old baby daughter becoming a toddler...some health issues...a potential layoff turned into a payoff situation...some more health issues...some family drama.  That being said, I never finished my registration last year.  I also think the personal narratives and detailed employment history threw me for a loop.  Back in my day (imagine geezer voice here), it was a simple process to take the exam, just sign up and pay the fee.

So I let my application for the November exam lapse without registration.  And now it begins again.

Luckily for me, the Department of State has changed the requirements.  Now, the personal narrative is required after you take the exam.  That's more my speed right now.

So, me and Mrs. FSOwannabe are taking the June exam.  She picked the public diplomacy cone and I've picked the economic cone - with the idea that if we happen to win the lottery and both get in, we'll have a better chance of getting tandem assignments. 

Wish us luck.